The Novelty of Popery Discovered, Chapter 4 – Chapter 5
CHAPT. IV.
That these Doctrines of Fayth, for which the Romanistes pretende onlie vnwritten tradition, as their warrand, are not onelie beside, but also plainly contrarie to the written word, by their own confession: and so can not bee but the latter sowne Popple in the Lord's Field.
BELLARMINE in his fourth Booke of the Word of God,Bell. l. 4. de verbo c. 11. § …ctavo professeth in the name of all Romanistes, saying, That such traditions as are repugnant to Scripture, we never doe defende, (sayth hee,) seeing there-fore hee renounceth such, and abdicateth them both from his profession, and patrocinie. Let VSUS inquyre concerning some poynts of Poperie, (by their owne confession,) whether they bee Babels babes, or the brood of such a bastard birth.
And first, wee know that publicke prayer, and performing of divine worship, in an vnknowne tongue to the People, is a doctrine and practise of Poperie, having no ground but vnwritten tradition. But if it bee asked whether this bee agreeable to Scripture, 1. COR. 14. or contrarie thereto, their owne Cardinall Cajetane on that place will tell vsus, saying, By this doctrine of S. Paull it is to bee helde, that it is farre better for the edifying of the Church, that publicke prayers, which are vttered in the hearing of the people, bee said in a language common, and knowne both to the Clergie and people.
And agayne, (sayth their owne Benedictus Montanus,) Bishop Montanus, in 1. Cor. 14.altho the Apostle would hauehave prayers sayde in a language that is vnderstood, yet notwithstanding it is to bee helde, that the Church (to wit, of Rome,) for most just causes, hath decreed and ordayned the contrarie. Heere, then, wee see that the Romane Church, can decree clean contrarie to the doctrine of the written Word.
Agayne, wee know that the prohibition of people to reade the Scriptures, is a doctrine and practise of Poperie; having no warrand, but the Churches tradition: but if it bee asked, whether this bee agreeable to Scripture, or no, and especiallie to COLOSS.Espen. in Titum …. 2. 3. 16; their owne Bishop Espenceus will tell vsus, saying, It is manifest by the doctrine of the Apostle to the Colossians, 3. 4. and by the practise of the Church, (sayeth hee) that of olde the vse of the Scriptures was permitted to the people. Therefore sayeth the Iesuit Azorius, Azor. instit. moral l. 8. c. 26. … 28.wee confesse that in S. Ierome, and Chrysostomes tymes, the Laicke people were exercysed in reading of the Scriptures, because they were written in these Languages which they did vnderst…d,Alf…s. à Castro verbo Scriptura, Agrippa, de van. sci. Cap. 100. and so sayeth also their Alfonsus à Castro, Agrippa, and others.
Lyke-wyse wee know,Bell. l. 2. de Reli. que c. 8. That the making the Image of GOD the Father, after the likenesse of an olde man, is a doctrine and practise of Poperie; having no warrand, but the tradition of the Romane Church: But if it bee asked, whether this bee agreeable to Scripture, EXOD. 20. 4. and DEVT. 4. 15. a clowde of witnesses of their owne Doctors will tell vsus the contrarie, as Bellarmin… confesseth,Abul…sis in Deut. 4. q. 5. Durand. in 3. Dist. 9. q. …. Peres… de Abulensis to bee, Durand, and Perésius, to whom wee may joyne also the late Iesuit Vasquez, and others: Wherefore Iohannes Ragusius, in his Oration at the Councell of Basil, is forced to confesse, That altho in the olde Law, the visible Images of GOD, and of his Saynctes, were forbidden by the Law of GOD, and no libertie was graunted since, eyther in the Olde or New Testament to make anie such;Trad. Part. 3. de Imag… vasq. l. 2. de …dor. c 3. disp 4. num 74▪ yet the Church taught (forsooth) by the holie Ghost, (sayeth hee) hath not onelie permitted, but decreed and ordayned the contrarie. Where wee may see a strange libertie assumed by the Church, and a farre stranger inspiration of her by the holie Ghost, hee to bee contrarie to himselfe, and shee to trangresse GOD'S expresse command in Scripture, by his inspiration.
More-over, wee know that the giving of the Communion to the people, vnderunder one kynde onelie, is a doctrine and practise of Popeperie, having no warrand for it but the tradition and authoritie of the Romane Church: but if it bee asked whether this bee agreeable to Scripture or no, the Councell of Constance, Cōcil. Constance S…ss. …3.all in one voyce, will tell vsus the contrarie, and confesse that neyther was it so in CHRIST'S institution set downe in holie Scripture, nor was it the practise of the Apostles, or of the primitiue Church; but is brought in later, for such reasons as the Church of Rome thought good. For so sayeth the Councell, Albeit CHRIST after Supper did institute this venerable Sacrament, and gaue it to His Disciples vnderunder both kynds of bread & wine: As also, tho in lyke-manner this Sacrament was receaved by the faythfull vnderunder both kyndes, Notwithstanding there-of, this custome▪ for eschewing of certayne dangers and scandalls that might ensue, vponupon good reason is now brought in, that the same shall bee receaved by Laickes vnderunder one kynde onelie. Where wee see that the Church of Rome thinketh her selfe wyser, and more provident in fore-seeing of dangers, than CHRIST, His Apostles, and the primitiue Church was, and that lyke the Pharisees and Scrybes of olde, by her traditions shee hath made the word of GOD to bee of no effect.
CHAPTER V.
That these Doctrines of Fayth, for which the Romanistes pretende onlie vnwritten Tradition, by their owne confession, are neyther necessarie nor profitable to salvation; and consequentlie not onelie superfluous, but vnjustlie vrged to bee believed, vponupon danger of salvation.
CArdinall Bellarmine, Bell. l. 4. de verbo c. 11. §. his not… tis.in his fourth Booke of the Word of GOD, confesseth, that the Apostles did preach vntounto GOD'S people, all these thinges which were necessarie and profitable vntounto them, (sayeth hee) vntounto their salvation: But what they preached so to all, that also they wrote, and left registrate in Scripture:Ibidē. for so sayeth Bellarmsne in lyke-manner, I affirme, that all these thinges were written by the Apostles, (sayeth hee) which are necessarie for all men, and which they publicklie preached to all. Therefore it followeth, that in the Apostles writs are contayned all thinges, which are necessarie and profitable to salvation.
But to subsume: These doctrinall Traditions, whereon is grounded the mayne bodie of Poperie; were not written by the Apostles, (as is confessed.) Therefore it followeth, that the same are neyther necessarie nor profitable to salvation: and so wee see, what doome their owne mouthes by the force of trueth, are made to pronounce vponupon these vnwritten Doctrines and Traditions; and consequentlie how vnju…lie they are obt…uded vponupon Gods people.
Next,Act. 20. 27 I a…gue, What the Apostles did preach vntounto all, as necessarie and profitable vntounto salvation,l. Cor. 25. 2. and which S. PAVLL calleth else where the whole councell of GOD, that onelie should their successoures teach vntounto all, as necessarie and profitable vntounto salvation.
But the Apostles (as is confessed) did preach nothing vntounto all, as necessarie and profitable vntounto salvation, but that which is written in holie Scripture, vnderunder the payne of that curse denounced by S. Paull, GAL. 1. 8.
Therefore, nothing should bee taught by true Pastors as their successoures vntounto all, as necessarie and profitable vntounto salvation, but that which is written in holie Scripture.Aug… l. 3. cont. petil. c 6. So Basil sūma moral 72 c. 1 Where-fore sayeth Augustine, if wee or an Angell from Heaven preach vntounto you any thing, beside that which yee hauehave receaved, in the Legall and Evangelicall Scriptures, let him bee accursed. As also sayeth their Aquinas, It is to bee affirmed, that no other thing ought to bee preached,Aquinas in Gal. 1 but that onelie which is contayned in the Gospells, and Epistles, and in the holie Scripture, playnlie or more obscurelie.
Whosoever then teacheth for doctrines of fayth, anie vnwritten traditions, neyther contayned in holie Scripture playnlie nor obscurelie,Canu… Loc. Theol. c. 3. fund. 3. (as Canus affirmeth most poynts of their doctrine to bee) it followeth that hee is no true teacher, nor successour to the Apostles; but controlling Scripture, and deserting their practise, hee declareth himselfe to bee an impostor, guiltie of prophane Noveltie,Gal. 1. 8. a sower of Tares in the LORD'S Field, and will-fullie to incurre that Apostolicall Anathema.